awkward work issue

[moreexcitingthanbegonias]

I've just started a new job, and am currently in a handover period with the current postholder.

Without giving too much away for obvious reasons I was shown a document today that the panel who interviewed me used to select candidates for interview. The members of the panel shortlisted separately. The individual who shortlisted me put me down as a no because, in their words, my "english wasn't good".

TBH I was gobsmacked by this. I went over my cover letter and CV again and there were no grammatical or spelling errors at all, no weird clunky sentences, nothing. I have a first class degree in English and an MA. Of all the things that would count against me in a shortlisting process, this isn't even something I would consider.

The only thing I can think of is that I have a foreign name because my parents aren't British. But I was born and raised here. I don't even speak another language: English is my mother tongue.

Anyway maybe I'm being over sensitive but I feel upset about this now - the Director in question is my line manager and I'm worried. He gave me a 2 out of 5 on the form - and yet I was shortlisted, interviewed and given the role?!

I have got zero confidence as it is and it's taken a massive plummet tonight.

I'm a pedant and have worked in roles where written English needs to be perfect. Sometimes people are weirdly resistant to proof-reading corrections and insist their (ungrammatical) way is correct - I'm not talking about Oxford commas either. I expect it's something similar, like they got a bee in their bonnet about you correctly using "its" rather than "it's" or something.

I’m not sure what role you are in now but could it be perhaps they didn’t think a degree in English was good/appropriate to the job.

I’m pleasantly surprised?! Woah.

Personally I’d think it was one of two things - either he was trying to purposely get his preferred candidate a higher score and therefore be shortlisted or he has an explicit or unconscious bias.

Have you looked at his scoring of the other candidates? If there’s an obvious favourite and everyone scored low then it’s the first option. If not then if he has got a bias then hopefully (I guess) it’s an unconscious one and it won’t affect you once your working with him. What did he seem like in person?

FWIW I work in a male dominated environment. I have been told once that they only interviewed me because I was a woman and had to get at least one woman in, but when they met me they recognised I was the best candidate. Was I happy To be told that? No but in reality it didn’t actually affect me because our working relationships were actually fine.

Actually, it probably is the 'foreign name' thing and they're trying to feel superior, with no basis. As others say, give them a wide berth but don't let it put you off the job... will you be working closely with them?

I expect it's something similar, like they got a bee in their bonnet about you correctly using "its" rather than "it's" or something.

I know exactly what you mean but I couldn't find a single thing that would have set someone off in that respect!

I really don't think it was the degree - for a start it isn't relevant to the job and for another thing it's the kind of degree you'd expect someone working in that field to have.

In as in to be interviewed. I literally was asked to attend so they could say they interviewed a woman. One. Out of I don’t know how many applicants. Yay equality!

As others say, give them a wide berth but don't let it put you off the job... will you be working closely with them?

Unfortunately he is my line manager. That's why this is as big a problem as it is for me.

@IKEA888

I think you have to concentrate on the fact you got the job. Try and forget what you have seen.

I agree with this. He probably can't even remember the letter/CV and certainly won't be thinking about how he scored you - you got the job so he must believe that you are capable. Also give the person who showed you the info a wide berth.

How very odd.
Either as a pp says they have a bug bear about something you don't, they might even be wrong, for example the number of people who belive "the video was played for John and my benefit" should be "John and i's" is astounding. So you may never know what you did 'wrong'.
Or as a different pp suggested it was a poorly worded comment on the relevance of your degree (but odd you'd be marked down).
Or they're racist.
Bikerunski's comment is odd too, she is usually very lovely and a long standing normal poster.

Have you looked at his scoring of the other candidates? If there’s an obvious favourite and everyone scored low then it’s the first option. If not then if he has got a bias then hopefully (I guess) it’s an unconscious one and it won’t affect you once your working with him. What did he seem like in person?

Yes, the other candidates who were interviewed all scored 5 and he wrote very positive things about their applications.

Reads to me like the English degree wasn't what they were after, so that comment was made. Wouldn't even think about it if I were you.

You must come across brilliantly in interview!

It's difficult to comment op without seeing the application. However I have often found that the very best application on paper does not extrapolate to the very best candidate at interview.

You got the job - that's what matters.

This is precisely why blind recruitment is so important.

Risky strategy but given how you feel do you have much to lose by telling your line manager what you saw? Maybe honesty is the best policy.

The thoughtless, probably conniving person who accidentally showed it to you should be brought up to account for their error. If that is what it was...

The line manager who wrongly and unfairly graded you low, will be obliged to explain why.

The air will be cleared and you can hopefully continue with your job without feeling undermined.

Also you must have had the document for a few minutes to read all the detail and who wrote the comments, how on earth did that happen?

You must come across brilliantly in interview!

Sure but how did I get there in the first place?! That's what bugs me. Did other candidates drop out? Will he constantly be watching me now for any tiny little typo I might make? I'm bound to - I'm a human being!

That’s really odd. Could be an error?

However, given they’re your line manager, they must have been part of the decision to select you after interview.

They likely will have no recollection of their comments on your app.

Also you must have had the document for a few minutes to read all the detail and who wrote the comments, how on earth did that happen?

I was told it was for a different role. It was only when I saw my name that I realised it was, in fact, for my role.

Yes I see what you mean. I think you just need to try to put it behind you and see how they are with you doing the job - do they micromanage, what sort of feedback do you get etc?

I really don't think it was the degree. That would make absolutely no sense whatsoever. A good 80% of people working in this particular job have the same or similar degrees.

How long have you been in the role? I kno you say just started, days, weeks?

Right
Do you think it's likely ro be racism? You're probably best placed to judge?

As he hadn’t met you at that point then it’s not about you it’s about his prejudices surely? He saw a foreign name, imagined your English wasn’t good - that says more about him no?

Alternatively, there were errors on your CV/cover letter you haven’t noticed. But you got the job anyway so no-one else cared.

I guess I don’t really understand why your confidence would rest on the opinion of some random bloke.

Don't worry about it, it was about your written application not you. Maybe they misread it or they were having a bad day. Or maybe the twat who accidentally showed you faked it to fuck with you.